A cleaner Vietnam,
written one
chapter at a time.
Keep Vietnam Clean is a social enterprise with a mission to facilitate and inspire sustainable living practices and environmental health throughout Vietnam. Read our story below or watch our video to discover the story of Keep Vietnam Clean.
Where it all began
The Journey
From a single canal to a national movement.
Every chapter has been written by volunteers, partners and friends who believed change was possible. Here is how it unfolded.
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Chapter 01
2016A movement is started
In May 2016 James Kendall (an American English teacher) and a dozen of his friends cleaned a garbage-choked canal in Vietnam’s capital city, Hanoi. With this first event, a movement was started - and "Keep Hanoi Clean" was born.
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Chapter 02
2016-2018Keeping Hanoi...Clean!
The early days of Keep Hanoi Clean were filled with regular weekend community cleanups throughout the core districts of Hanoi.
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Chapter 03
2016-2018The movement grows
The numbers of volunteers quickly grew from hundreds to thousands. Keep Hanoi Clean was also able to develop partnerships with local businesses, social organizations, and local government offices.
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Chapter 04
2018Reuse, recycle, raise funds!
In 2018 we held our first garage sale to help fund our clean-up activities. Local businesses donated clothing rails, supporters donated clothes, and our dedicated volunteers worked hard to offer local residents the best second-hand bargains.
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Chapter 05
2018A registered social enterprise
In 2018 Keep Hanoi Clean became a registered Vietnamese social enterprise to enable our work to have a deeper, broader, and more sustainable impact.
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Chapter 06
2019The Green Gem Shop opens
After the success of our garage sales, in 2016 we opened the Green Gem Shop! The Green Gem Shop is a thrift store in Hanoi which helps local people to shop sustainably - from clothing and liquid refills, to fashion accessories and books. Proceeds from the shop continue to support our work to this day.
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Chapter 07
2021Expanding our operations
In 2021 Keep Hanoi Clean took another big step forward: we identified and implemented five individual program areas designed to tackle the diverse, interconnected, and growing environmental challenges facing Hanoi.
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Chapter 08
2021The start of a long-term sustainable impact
Throughout 2021 and beyond we began taking on new projects within these five program areas: City Beautification, Education, Research & Policy, Clean & Green Climate, and Green Lifestyles.
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Chapter 09
2022Keep Vietnam Clean
In 2022 we changed our name to "Keep Vietnam Clean" to better reflect the nationwide impact of our work.
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Chapter 10
20237th Anniversary
In May 2023 we celebrated our 7th Birthday with members, donors and friends. With the continued support of businesses, organizations and individuals, there's so much more we can and will achieve!
We started with a canal, a dozen friends, and a stubborn belief that small acts, repeated together, can change a country.
The next chapter needs you.
Volunteer, donate, partner or simply spread the word. Every action shapes the Vietnam we will leave behind.